Photo By Cpl. Devan Barnett | Sgt. Martin Belden, a non-lethal weapons instructor with 4th Law Enforcement...... read more read more
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Finding the balance between the civilian world and Marine Corps can be a challenge, but Martin Belden, a 27-year old from Missoula, Montana, has proved he has found that balance and used his experiences in both worlds to lead to success.
Belden’s father was a Marine during the tail end of Vietnam; he worked as a radio operator in Hawaii with a recon unit. Belden says that the want and influence to be a Marine like his father started there, especially after hearing all of the great stories his father always had. Before settling in Missoula, Montana, he was born in Chico, California, and then moved to Bozeman, Montana, where he grew up until the age of 12.
Though Belden always wanted to be Marine, like his father, he first decided to first pursue a career in professional white water kayaking.
“I had thought about it and I had thought about joining right after high school and ended up trying to pursue a career as a professional white water kayaker instead, which I love, rivers are one of my big passions in life. I love paddling and being on the water and as time went on I think I just wanted to do something more and something bigger and decided to enlist later on in life,” said Belden. “I was already married and the Reserve was a good option for what my wife and I were looking for in life, that’s how I ended up in the Reserve unit. Yeah I wanted to be a Marine since I was a little kid because of my dad, but just the way life took me and the path I went on, it took me a little while I suppose.”
Though it took some time for Belden to find his path to the Marine Corps, he found his place in with 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, where he currently serves in the military police unit as a squad leader for 1st squad, 2nd platoon.
In addition to being a squad leader for his unit, he also serves as a non-lethal weapons instructor, a job he recently performed during exercise Platinum Wolf 2016, in Bujanovac, Serbia.
“My specific job at Platinum Wolf was as an instructor for non-lethal weapons, munitions and techniques for the Marines and other nations at the exercise,” said Belden.
As an instructor Belden was able to interact with partner nations and put his teaching skills to the test.
“It’s been a great and a different sort of experience for me, we were training the Serbians, Macedonians and five guys from Montenegro and the language barrier was a challenge to get over,” said Belden. “So that was challenging but the Macedonians did a great job taking the lead on the training to break down the language barrier, and those of us from 4th LE Bn. were basically there to assist them in making the training as good as we could. They did a great job seems like everyone was learning a lot and having a great time and we got to do a little bit of Taser and OC exposure and then running through the mock drills which is the mechanical advantage hold techniques.”
In the civilian world Belden is a student currently finishing his last semester in environmental restoration and also works for a company called White Water Rescue Institute. The institute has two focuses; to provide quality instruction to professional and private boaters, fire department and law enforcement personnel on swift water rescue, and contracting with railroads to provide various spill cleanups.
Both his job in and outside of the Marine Corps places a heavy emphasis on being an instructor, skills that he uses to find success in both.
“I have been working with White Water Rescue Institute for about a decade now and I do a lot of instruction which I think has helped me a lot in the Marine Corps, having those public speaking skills, and being able to instruct.” added Belden. “And the skills I have learned from the Marine Corps, taking those back to the civilian world, just the level of professionalism that is expected out of us, I think it is really beneficial when working with large corporations or professionals, when you are giving a period of instruction.”
According to Belden it can sometimes be a challenge to find the balance between the two jobs but putting in the effort to do so is worthwhile.
“Occasionally it can be difficult to find balance; most of the time I come out to annual training or drill I never want to leave. Then on the civilian side it is hard to get away from civilian work and make the five hour drive to Billings for three days, but it’s a good balance and it keeps me on my toes and keeps me honest.”
Being in the Reserve not only keeps Belden on his toes but has also provided him the opportunity to travel and have a few good stories of his own just like his father.
“I have been pretty lucky since I have been in, we here in Serbia right now, last year we were able to go to Ukraine and the year before that I went to Texas for training. Then I was in Miramar, and Corporals Course in Bridgeport, so I have been pretty lucky as far as getting to go do a lot of different things, and coming overseas for the last two years has been a really great experience.”
Belden has learned to successfully meld his two lives together and embrace life as a Reserve Marine. He also believes the best part of the job is simply spending the time with his unit.
“Just having the opportunity to spend two week as a unit together, and I love all of these guys. Having that opportunity to get to know everyone a little better, get in some good training and build the unit as much as we can in the little time we have.”
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2016 16:44 |
| Story ID: | 198223 |
| Location: | BUJANOVAC, RS |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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